Two of Jim Webb’s Most Important 2006 Endorsers – Donald McEachin and Leslie Byrne – Rip Him for His Comments on Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

I’ve already commented on Jim Webb’s disgraceful comments about the coarse, racist, demagogue and neo-fascist, Donald Trump, on “Morning Joe” earlier today. Now, one of Jim Webb’s first and most important endorsers back in 2006 — then Delegate (and now State Senator) Donald McEachin, has issued a scathing statement repudiating Webb. This expresses my feelings, and the feelings of many other 2006 Webb “ragtag army” members, very well I’d guess.

Henrico- Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) today issued this statement in response to Jim Webb’s comments about Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Senator McEachin said, ”I considered Jim Webb a political friend and ally but anyone who can rationalize Trump’s racist, xenophobic and misogynistic attitudes, his absurd coarsening of the dialogue and demeaning of the presidency and the process is someone I feel compelled to repudiate,” Senator McEachin said.

Note that the endorsement in 2006 by Donald McEachin was very helpful to Jim Webb in many ways, including pushing back against charges that Webb was racist (because of his apparent admiration of the Confederacy, among other things). Yet now Webb’s seriously thinking about supporting a racist like Donald Trump??? Wow.

Another key, early endorser of Jim Webb in 2006 was former Rep. Leslie Byrne, who accurately called her endorsement of Webb the “liberal woman’s Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.” Among other things, that endorsement helped Webb counter charges of misogyny and of not being a “real Democrat.” Unfortunately, today, Webb’s proven beyond a shadow of doubt that he’s NOT a real Democrat, and also that he’s perfectly happy to consider supporting a raging misogynist (Trump). Here’s what Leslie Byrne herself had to say on Facebook, following Webb’s appearance on “Morning Joe.”

Dear Jim Webb: Right now you couldn’t get elected Dog Catcher in Virginia. You have betrayed all those who worked, including Hillary Clinton, to allow you to eke out a 9,000+ vote victory. Rather than build on that victory, you quit, which you seem to do on a regular basis. I am through with you…[Byrne added in another thread] He seemed to like Hillary enough when she was raising money for his Senate race. What a disloyal dweeb.

Sad to say, as someone who co-founded the Draft James Webb movement and who worked for his 2006 campaign – and who remains very proud of what the “ragtag army” accomplished, booting George Allen from office and taking back the U.S. Senate – I can’t say I disagree with a word either Sen. McEachin or former Rep. Byrne had to say. It’s just sad.

I’ll choose to think of Jim Webb as being a mercenary. An unsavory guy we hired for a single job – get rid of George Allen. He did that, stuck around for the minimum amount of time (one term in office), then went back out into the cold.

I look at him more as a tragic figure, who could have been so much more, but instead turned to the dark side due largely to bitterness at losing badly in the Democratic 2016 presidential contest.

notjohnsmosby

I don’t think he could have been more than he was. The one term in the Senate was the longest job he’d ever held. His history has been pretty constant. We just overlooked it – or were delusional, or just pretending – that he was different 10-11 years ago. He wasn’t. He probably thinks that turning to the Democratic Party was going to the dark side, as a reaction to Bush II.

Regardless, he’s done at this point. Maybe he and Doug Wilder can start a radio show about how to get elected and after leaving office, can burn all bridges they ever made.

Va_lady2008

The real tragic thing is that for Virginia democrats in 2006, Webb was the best candidate on offer. Harris Miller likely would not have defeated Governor Macaca.

For what it’s worth, my then USMC combat infantryman son opined before the election that Webb would only serve the people be term.

Quizzical

At least Hillary doesn’t quit.

Webb can vote for anyone he pleases or no one at all, for any reason or no reason, but to go on National television and say that is to give the finger to the Democratic Party. Apparently Webb isn’t going to vote for Bernie either.

Dianna Richardson

Many grassroots volunteers worked really, really hard to get Jim Webb elected. He was a reluctant candidate with an iffy background, but you and others convinced him to run, and Democrats at every level worked to get him elected. I’m glad we got him through (although he was one of the worst campaigners I ever worked for) because his win kept George Allen from being elected. As we all remember, Allen was one of the golden boys for the GOP and, some said, was being groomed for the Presidency. Luckily for voters, he slipped up and allowed us insight into the “real” George Allen. I’m disappointed and disgusted with Webb as many others are, but we must remember that he did our state a big favor 10 years ago.